Health Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth highlighted the system’s evolution and current role. “Kenya has been utilizing OpenMRS under various names—Ampath Medical Records System (AMRS), KenyaEMR, and e-Hospital—for the past 12 years. These OpenMRS-based Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) have become crucial health information systems that support public health programs across public, private, and faith-based institutions in Kenya and the region,” he said
By The Weekly Vision
At a recent meeting attended by over 200 technology experts from around 80 countries, it was revealed that a system originally designed for HIV programs in Kenya over a decade ago is now poised for nationwide integration of other health services. The Open Source Medical Records System, which has been used for twelve years, has digitized the medical records of over 22 million patients across 8,100 health facilities in Kenya.
Health Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth highlighted the system’s evolution and current role. “Kenya has been utilizing OpenMRS under various names—Ampath Medical Records System (AMRS), KenyaEMR, and e-Hospital—for the past 12 years. These OpenMRS-based Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) have become crucial health information systems that support public health programs across public, private, and faith-based institutions in Kenya and the region,” he said. Dr. Amoth emphasized the need to rapidly expand this system to encompass all health services.
Thanks to funding from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), OpenMRS has been deployed in over 2,300 health facilities in Kenya. Dr Amoth noted that the digitization of services for over 90 per cent of patients on anti-retroviral therapy has been accomplished using OpenMRS.
“Many facilities are now adopting KenyaEMR as a comprehensive EMR solution. This investment has laid a strong foundation for Kenya’s broader health sector digitization initiatives,” Dr Amoth remarked during the five-day meeting held at a Nairobi hotel.
He praised the system as an example of open innovation, suggesting that it could be easily adopted by other African countries. “While the HIV program was an early adopter of OpenMRS, it is time to expand its use,” he said. Brace Potma, Director of Product at OpenMRS, echoed these sentiments. She noted that as Kenya and other sub-Saharan countries transition to Universal Health Coverage (UHC), digitization and automation of health services will be essential. “Achieving financial inclusion through Kenya’s social health insurance program and focusing on person-centered care are critical for UHC’s success,” she added.
